I'm in Love with Skinny Hangers!

I am sure you have seen what I speak of....those "skinny" faux velvet flocked garment hangers are everywhere. If you have not tried them yet, I can assure you, they work wonders!!! I re-did my closet with them some time ago & probably gained around a foot of added space where I could hang NEW stuff! Also, as most women know, clothing tends to slip off most other hangers & fall to the floor, but not these. All my clothes stay put, no more slippage & no more poke-y hanger marks in my shoulder zone.

I highly recommend you switch over if you have not already done so!! Best place to buy: COSTCO where you can get a box of like 60 for only around $15. Such a deal! Lately, Costco has been sold out & I had to break down & pay more buy buying some at Marshall's, were you get only around 18 to 20 for $12.99, but when in a bind to finish a closet re-organization project, it was still worth it. You can find skinny hangers just about anywhere, though, including Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, Walmart, Ross and TJ Maxx. They even make some with 4-5 rungs on them so you can layer up your pants all on 1 hanger. Nice!!

My hope is they soon start making them to hang baby gear. *wink*

Go get your skinny hangers today! You won't regret it.......Happy Shopping!

No Mas

If you enjoyed the Marshall's Mega-Shoe in Glendale, attached to Home Goods like I did, you will be sad to know that it's gone..... Not sure why & not sure what will become of the space, but if I had to guess, Home Goods will simply expand & take over. I love Home Goods, so it's all good, but the shoes will be missed.

Farewell, Glendale Mega-Shoe!!

Happy Shopping, everyone!

Kids & Baby SALE!

No time to get word-y....but Old Navy is having a big sale on kids & baby gear. Check it out before all the cute stuff is gone!!

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/home.do?tid=onemri0325&ev=OBG252010&di=19408297&cd=ONNC_OIN&redirect=true

Happy Shopping!

QUITTERS

Yep, that's what we feel like...QUITTERS! Mitzi's time with us ended last Saturday after 4+ months of us desperately trying to give her love & teach her that it's not OK to urinate in our house, on our furniture, on our clothes/shoes, or anywhere else indoors for that matter. *sigh* The poor, sweet thing just did not get it. Her psychological issues ran too deep & we had to give up on her. We made the long journey to Costa Mesa to return her to the rescue group from whence she came. SORRY MITZI....we loved you, but you were just too much for us.

It has been several days since her departure. I'm not sure what's more sad...the fact we had to give up or the fact that the house is so peaceful, calm & relaxing now that she IS gone??? I never realized how much of my time she consumed, even when I was not home....she was always on my mind. She was always on Mike's mind. The non-stop flow of urine coming out of her was always bothersome & we had high hopes that in time, it would pass. Now that she is gone, I am so much more relaxed when I am home. While sad to send her packing, I feel free again.

Mitzi is no dummy -- she learned to "sit", "stay", or "go lay down in your bed" with relative ease in recent weeks, but she could not stop urinating anytime she was happy, nervous, scared or insecure. We treated her like gold & yet, she could not stop. Medically, there was nothing wrong with her. We had the vet examine her to make sure. We were told it's common in dogs that were abused & she may or may not get over it in time --- and we should invest in dog diapers, which we did...to no avail.

Frankie is adjusting, although he appears to search for her at times. I'm sure he once again loves being the center of attention. He also loves getting to be indoors more often. When Mitzi was there, we tried to treat them equally, which meant he was banned from the house during daylight hours to be in the yard w/ Mitzi. I think he hated the lack of human contact no matter how much he liked to wrestle with his little canine pal. Our hope is she finds a permanent home with someone that is more tolerant -- although, I think we had the patience of Saints in dealing with her, maybe she still needs more??

Farewell, little Mitzi-Mae.....best of luck to you! May you have a happy life wherever you land. XOXO

Q&A

I have no recent shopping adventures to post about.....trying to watch the budget lately. So, I thought I would take a quick moment to try & find out where YOU like to shop (not that many peeps read this blog, but what the heck?). Tell me your top 5 stores & why you like them. Who knows?? Maybe it will inspire ME to find new places to shop!

Happy Shopping!

Patience is Running Out

What is one to do with a darling, scruffy little mutt that has suffered through SO much when their patience begins to run out? Mitzi was adopted in October, most unexpectedly....and despite our best efforts, the submissive urination just won't end. We have to keep her outdoors most of the time. When indoors, she has to wear doggie diapers -- yes, they really DO make those!

It's rare one of us can step outside to greet both our pooches & Mitzi remains dry. She's happy to see us -- it's not fear by any means, but she makes a huge puddle. If something startles her (which the simplest of things do), she makes a huge puddle. If she is frightened or intimidated, she makes a huge puddle. It's not fun & I do not appreciate changing doggie diapers daily. *sigh*

We did tons of research on the subject of submissive urination in dogs. In the dog kingdom, it stems from insecurity and is their way of showing the dominant force RESPECT......I'll tell you what -- respect me LESS and urinate on my floor LESS, please. The urination happens indoors and outdoors. We have followed all the rules & it goes nowhere. Surely in 3 months, SOME improvement should be seen? We see it in other areas with her -- she's intelligent, she's loving -- but the pee-pee thing, she is not getting over & it sucks! We are trying every trick, every recommendation & it's not getting better. We have had her evaluated by the vet to make sure there was no medical issue. She's fine there.

It's not all bad.....Mitzi-Mae is very loving & sweet, although she has had some barky, nasty moments at home when new people come to visit. Not cool, but easier to understand than the urinary problem. She has gradually slowed down with her eating, knowing no one is going to steal her food, as what may have happened her 10+ months in a rescue shelter with 20+ other dogs. She gets along well with Frankie most of the time -- but he does get annoyed with her when she steals his bed. I know there is a smart dog in there somewhere.....

We have fleeting moments where Mitzi is a "real dog", meaning her tail is wagging, the ears are cocked ever-so cutely beside her tiny face & she's running & jumping in the yard.....then, you just look at her & fear comes over her....the tail goes down wraps up under her female parts, the ears slick back in terror & she cowers, often with urine flowing out. It's horrible. It's sad. Her prior owner surely did not treat her well that she has SO much fear. He or she must have been a real stellar human being for beating up on an 8 pound pup! Makes me sick.

I feel like a quitter if I return her to the rescue group, but honestly, I don't know how much more I can tolerate. Maybe she needs someone who is home more & can work with her more often than I can? She's darling & funny & loving....but such a handful & seriously, our patience is wearing very thin for keeping her for the long haul, I'm sad to say. *sigh* Stay tuned........but if anyone has the time & patience of a Saint, by all means, give us a call & perhaps we can work out a transfer??? We need help. I don't even think the Dog Whisperer could fix this tiny creature....

In the Year 2010

No shopping chatter for today....just wanted to take a tiny moment to say that I hope that everyone had a wonderful Chaunukah / Christmas season. Ours was mellow, but enjoyable nonetheless. I was a complete loser this year & did not ever find the time to take a cute holiday photo of my precious pups which has been my "thing" ever since I have owned doggies. A few friends expressed some disappointment if I did not send a traditional doggie holiday card, so I cheated....mind you, I don't have Photoshop, nor would I even know how to use it if I did. I had to use the "Paint" feature in Windows to alter an already existing & terribly cute photo of my pups for the 2009 holiday card this year. The photo pictured here is not the one used in the card, but an equally cute but similarly cheater-style painted pic regardless. I also failed to print enough of the cheesy pictures, thus, seriously having to limit who I sent them out to....and, ran out of stamps last minute and even failed to put stamps on a half-dozen or so that were returned to me in untimely fashion by the Post Office. My bad! If you received one of our cheesy cards, consider yourself one of the lucky ones!! *wink* I was truly batting a thousand with my holiday cards this year.....

As for the coming year, I want to wish everyone the very best in 2010. I know that personally, 2009 had some good days and some unpleasant moments to say the least (then again, every year does, really)....overall, I guess I cannot complain in that so many people have it worse than I do, even if there are days where it feels like my world is coming to an end. I still have my health! I have a wonderful husband! I have a beautiful home! I have some great friends and while I don't like the fact I have to work, at least I DO have a J-O-B. May everyone have a safe, prosperous & Happy New Year because no matter how cliche that sounds, it could not be more true of my wishes to everyone. I hope that 2010 brings us all good health, good fortune, and good times!

And, of course, on a much more superficial level....may 2010 bring lots of nice things to YOUR closet, as well as to mine! HAPPY SHOPPING! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The $19 Diva

No, that's not my new nickname.....it's the price I just paid for a pair of (shockingly) well-fitting, cute jeans from Old Navy called "the Diva". It's a skinny jean that's actually rather flattering -- it's not so skinny where you cannot get your feet out the bottoms or where you have some serious fabric twisting to contend with as you "wriggle" into them. They just fit well without any of the ill side effects. They are on sale again this week for $19 (regularly $26.50, or $29.50, I cannot recall). Check them out! I highly recommend them -- and coming from a gal that normally prefers premium denim, this is quite the compliment to Old Navy.

Happy Shopping!

p.s. - they are also very slimming for skinny jeans, something I find to not normally be the case with this style.

When the Chips are Down....

Photo courtesy of Betty Crocker website

OK, I never post about food, I'm sure of it. I love to eat, but for those that know me, you know I am a super picky eater who finds something she likes & eats it over & over & over again rather than risk trying something new that does not suit my taste. I'm completely BORING when it comes to food, unlike many of my foodie friends. I would likely die of starvation if I was in another country (other than Mexico) because I would be afraid to eat. BUT, in all my pickiness, I am a HUGE fan of bread. I don't think I have met a bread I did not like. Well, that's not entirely true -- I once tried Ezekiel bread & it was horrible! My granny used to think I'd make a good prisoner since I could EASILY survive on bread & water alone!!! Of course, bread is not the best thing for us.... as I age & weight tends to stick to my bones more easily, those "bad carbs" just are not my friend. *sigh* That being said, we have tried to cut back on our intake of the evil gluten we often hear about. Mike is now a believer that the stuff bloats you, makes you crave more of it & hence, you can pack on pounds with little effort -- I tried telling him for years that bread is worse than eating a piece of cheese, despite the fat content. We are trying to not eat gluten much, if at all anymore. We still get burgers & chili dogs on occasion, but NO bun. No more sandwiches unless they are wrapped in lettuce versus bread, etc.

In our quest for yummy things that are gluten-free, I was surprised at how much good stuff is out there, sans gluten. I am NOT a cook so I really am clueless about all this, but I stumbled upon gluten-free baked goods and pre-packaged cake & cookie mixes that also gluten-free. Could they be any good??? Low & behold, they can be! I purchased the Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookie mix, gluten-free, of course. You just have to add butter, vanilla & an egg. The batter is rather dry & crumbly looking, but the cookies tasted pretty darn good once you get past the weird appearance of the raw dough -- we polished them off rather quickly. I'm impressed. Mike was impressed. Who knew? I bought the brownie mix, as well, but have not had time to bake that up just yet. Stay tuned!

It's difficult to find these Betty Crocker gluten-free mixes in your average grocery store. I found mine in Gelson's, but have also seen them at Howe's Market. I'm sure they are cheaper at Howe's. I paid $4.99 per box at Gelson's which is a bit steep, but in the end, the yummy cookies made it worthwhile!

Whole Foods has lots of gluten-free items & baked goods, as well. I sampled some chocolate cake, which was more like pie than cake....not sure what was in it, possibly apple sauce???...but it was good, as were their gluten-free peanut butter cookies.

So, if you are in the market to flatten your tummy a little, I suggest cutting down on your gluten intake.... and these gluten-free baked goods are much yummier than one might expect for when that pesky sweet tooth gets the best of you!

Happy Shopping!

"Won't you come on down to my RESCUE?"

Okay...I might have stolen a line from an old Echo & the Bunnymen tune, but I felt it was applicable here. *wink*


These are my precious pups, captured on my new LUMIX digital camera (which is a fun little camera -- that hopefully I can learn how to use someday)....pure luck with this photo, I swear! Frankie & Mitzi-Mae were just in a "chillin" kind of mood this day. Chillin' is not something I often catch these 2 rascals doing. They are an endless supply of energy when together! They were alternating between playing ball in the yard & sunning themselves on the (covered) outdoor sofa. I was home sick with a bad cold -- went outside to soak up some sun myself as I sipped some hot green tea, hoping for relief.....and, thankfully, had the camera nearby so I could snap a few photos of my precious angels. This is just one of the many cute ones I scored last week. *sigh* They melt my heart!

Frankie will have been with us a full 3 years as of tomorrow. Happy anniversary my precious boy!!! He was by FAR the best dog we have ever adopted & to this day, I cannot get over how truly lucky we are that he found us. You can never be unhappy when you see Frankie's sweet face. He is lovable, smart beyond words, and just plain fun to be around. His intelligence never ceases to amaze me or Mike. I still can't believe that someone let this little guy get away....what fools you were, whoever you are! (refer to my post 12/22/08 to read more about Frankie "the precious").

Mitzi-Mae was just adopted in early October, for those that did not already know. She comes to us with a LOT of issues and we are working hard to make her see we are good people & that she can trust us to take very good care of her. My friend Erika says she wants to be reincarnated as our dog in her next life because she thinks we give our dogs such "royal treatment". Mitzi is extremely sweet & loving...and once she gets over her numerous insecurities, I think we have another smart hound on our hands. She was clearly mistreated by her original owners & spent nearly a full year in a rescue getting healthy before we took her home. At times, her care is challenging, but we are determined to convince her she's in a good, safe place now. She is quickly winning over our hearts. (for more on Mitzi-Mae, see the October '09 post "the right kind of ugly".)

Frankie & Mitzi play together endlessly and it's so stinkin' cute to watch. We love these little guys! To us, they are not just dogs, they are our family....and a darn cute little family we make! Someday, I will have to upload footage of them in action.

To all the other dog lovers in the world....please RESCUE whenever possible! There are SO many wonderful dogs out there that need homes. I have never "bought" a dog & I never will. I may love my designer handbags or shoes, but I have no tolerance for "designer dogs" and wish more people would rescue dogs from shelters or other organizations. My RESCUED dogs have all had immense intelligence & a ton of love to share, once they come to know and trust you. It's so incredibly rewarding. My only regret is my lack of winning Lottery numbers which would enable us to be able to stay home more & pal around with these 2 wonderful creatures, Frankie & Mitzi-Mae. We love them so much. They bring us great joy and I just wanted to share these recent photos with anyone that may be reading.....ENJOY!

Doggie Duds

Just a quick note here: If you have small dogs like I have, you know the need for cozy, cute dog sweaters as the Winter weather rolls on into town. These darn doggie duds can start at $15 for the tiniest item & go up from there -- it's crazy!

New find: WAL-MART
I must say, for a nationwide discount retailer, they have a pretty amazing pet department. Of course, they don't carry my dog's fancy kibble there, but when it comes to bedding, dining accessories, carriers, crates, doggie diapers (yes, we need those for our little Mitzi until she learns to hold it better), and doggie duds, Wal-Mart really cannot be beat!

I have purchased several of the cutest dog sweaters there in recent weeks for only $5 each. Yep, you heard me....just $5! We're talking nice quality sweaters on the cheap. The sizing may be erratic but if you know your dog, you can quickly look at one & figure out what will fit & what won't, despite the size information on the label not being terribly accurate. Frankie & Mitzi now have matching grey & black "skull & crossbones" turtlenecks. Frankie got a new red holiday sweater. Mitzi scored a pink & white polka dot with patent leather bow applique on the backside. I even picked a couple of larger sized sweaters up for Marla for her Lola dog. I hope they fit! Pictures of Frankie to follow once my precious little hound is ready to model for you. It's not quite cold enough yet. *wink* Mitzi was willing, doggie-diaper & all.....

And, one more thing I need to add.....I bought a dog "crate" that is soft & collapses, as needed, for easier storage. I viewed several of these on Overstock.com & they started at around $70.....at Wal-Mart, I picked one up for under $17!! It's beige & black, so it should match my car, as well as the interior of my home, but they had other colors. It holds up to 50 pounds of dog, so that means I can fit both my babies inside. Not sure if I "needed" it, but I could not pass it up at that price!

Now, find your local Wal-Mart and pick up some cute clothes for YOUR beloved pets before it's too late!! Yes, they have some holiday duds for cats, too....but I suspect the felines don't like that sort of thing much.

Happy Shopping!

Booty-Camp

It really works! After just 3 weeks in "booty camp" with the amazingly fit Dianna Farr at the helm, I lost at least 6 pounds and 3.1% body fat. Wooo-hooo!! All that laziness and dining on really, really bad "fast food" during summer caused me to gain a few unwanted LBS. that I desperately needed to shed. My jeans were too tight & I was not comfortable with my body anymore. Sure, I was still "thin" by most people's definition of the word, but I was flabby & certainly more pudge-y that I preferred. I refused to buy bigger pants & sitting behind a desk all day with the fly part-way down was just no longer an option, while my mini-muffin top grew and my legs looks like stuffed sausages. (for real....I swear!)

SHUT UP SUE, yes, I hear you.....I full-well realize I don't have a lot to complain about. Most people would kill to weigh my WORST weight, but I prefer to not be there myself, that's all. It's tough for women to stay trim, particularly as we age (or as some of us have babies --not me, so don't anyone read into this!). I just don't wanna be uncomfy in my own skin anymore, literally. It was time to do something about it. I FINALLY signed up for Boot Camp in Burbank with one of my gym instructors, Dianna Farr.

Dianna is amazing...she has the perfect figure & an endless supply of energy. I swear, the woman never sleeps! She works, she trains, she takes fitness & martial arts classes herself, teaches fitness classes at the local gym, owns part of a Baskin Robbins franchise (of all things), and so much more. I have admired her for a long time & finally decided to take the plunge & enroll in her boot-camp classes, taught outdoors in Wildwoon Canyon (the hilly park near the Castaway). As much as I loathe working out, I loathe ill-fitting clothing more, so I had to do something. Boot Camp is the answer! I decided working out in these group settings OUTSIDE in the almost fresh LA air is just the ticket for me & my lazy behind!! No clock to watch, no stuffy/smelly/sweaty gym, no mirrors reflecting images back at me while I work it. Just the great outdoors, amazing views of the City of Burbank, and the occasional weather condition, be it wind or rain or extreme heat. I was terrified my first session -- I know how tough Dianna can be -- she keeps all her moves basic, but everything is done at high speed for maximum cardio benefit. The fat can't help but melt off of you!

That first session saw me running part way up & down the evil hill to the Castaway Restaurant REPEATEDLY....I seriously thought my lungs would explode....I even got nauseated towards the end & was actually looking forward to crunches just so I could lay down on my yoga mat in the grass!!! Dianna is great about watching over you, making sure you don't die out there. She wants you to work it, to push yourself, but be safe about it all.

The boot camp sessions are 3 weeks for $65 and you can go as often as you like for that fee. There are tons of girls of all ages, but I suspect I am one of the oldest. There is a family (mom, dad & tween), there are couples, and gals who have recently given birth....everyone is at a different level of fitness, but we all make the best of it & Dianna will keep at you to keep it movin'! I highly recommend it. Here is the link to her site:

http://www.starpointfitness.com/Classes.html

*note: You can also find Dianna Farr on Facebook.*

If you refer a friend, you get $10 off, so that's also nice. Last weekend, Dianna added a trail run / hike on Saturday morning up in the canyon. For those that have never hiked Wildwood, it's a short set of trails, but you don't ease into them at all....it's immediately straight up steep! We got to the top, took in the views & then it was time to jog down the entire trail & subsequent fire road. It was fun, I have to admit. I have hiked up there many times with my Mikey or my dogs or both, but never once did I jog any part of it. I am still a bit sore, more than 48 hours later, but it's all worth it now that my jeans fit again. Yay! I cannot recommend it enough. Check it out! I will be back up at Wildwood tonight to partake in yet another 'round of Booty Camp!

The best part: shopping for new work-out gear now that I am inspired, finally.

Happy Shopping!!

PUREOLOGY: Less than Pure

*photo credit: Amazon.com

I'm so sad....my long-time fave line of hair products, PUREOLOGY, was purchased sometime in late 2007 by the big conglomerate, L'Oreal.....I did not learn of this acquisition myself until just last week. I only did a random Google search because my last purchase of Pureology Hydrate (shampoo & conditioner) just seemed different. I chalked it up to maybe my hair was just going through a phase....but it really did not feel the same.

Normally, any of the Pureology shampoos create lather beyond words! The stuff has NO added water, hence, it's a concentrate of sorts. You use VERY little & it goes a LONG way. My hair was never known for is ability to lather well, but this stuff was like a hair miracle. My hair never felt cleaner or healthier & I was sold. It's not cheap, either, but it was worth it!! The Hydrate shampoo averages around $28 a bottle, which may seem steep, but as a concentrate, you use so little that the bottle lasts far longer than anything else you might purchase. In the long run, it's really not that expensive. I would sing its praises anytime someone complained of bad hair days -- "GO, buy Pureology and if you dislike it, I will buy it off of you so you have nothing to lose!!!" And, you know what? NO ONE ever asked me to buy it off of them. Why? Because they were sold, too! It worked wonders!!!

Pureology is known for zero sulfates, no alcohol & no added water, amongst other things. It's not tested on animals & it was 100% vegan....whatever that means in the world of shampoo. *wink* It was full of yummy botanicals & my hair was Heavenly on any given day after using it. If I really wanted a treat, I would splurge on the Nanoworks line...average price of this shampoo or conditioner would set you back just over $40 a bottle, but the results were even better than the Hydrate, if one could even imagine such a thing! I love it!!!

Fast forward to my June purchase of Pureology Nano & Hydrate products that "felt different"....my sister, Marla, mentioned she was no longer using it & complained about the fact it had alcohol in it when some new product she discovered & liked did not. I was floored. ALCOHOL in my Pureology??? What was she talking about? I ran home & read the labels on my bottles, old & new (some of my old bottles were in the recycle bin still)....sure enough, the newer bottles not only had water added (now the 1st ingredient on the label), but 2 kinds of alcohol in it!! I was horrified....I am paying top dollar for something that is supposed to be so pure & wonderful & it's just not. No wonder my hair felt different; no wonder the product did not lather like it used to; no wonder it looked or smelled a tad different...it WAS different!!! I jumped on Google & read tons & tons of messages & blogs about the fact that the recipe was cheapened & watered down....my wonderful botanical ingredients were gone & in their place was plain old water & a bunch of color-fading alcohol! I am paying top dollar for crap equivalent to any drugstore shampoo now. Not cool. The whole point of Pureology is that it's color-protective & once you add alcohol, that all goes out the window, friends.

I e-mailed my hairdresser, Marla & my friend Stacie, who are all in the know about Pureology products. My hairdresser, Deborah, is livid & has written the company...not to mention she wants her money back on the stockpile of product she is selling in her salon. Stacie was like me & just wanted to cry. Marla had already given up on Pureology & switched to another alcohol-free product. *sigh* Deborah & I have been "joking" about creating a product line that IS pure & sulfate/alcohol free.....made me wonder....what is entailed in such a venture? Can this innocent joking turn out to be something more real??? I failed chemistry, so making hair product is way out of my skill level, but you never know. I'm always searching for that light bulb to go on over my head for an idea for a business so I can quit "working for the man". I think I need to seriously chat Deb up about this.

All dreams aside, it's a sad, sad day now that my Pureology is no longer pure. I have come to the conclusion that I need to shop around for older product in hopes it's still the original recipe. That might mean buying from less "reputable" sources like E-bay or local discount stores where the stuff often pops up on shelves. So, I jump on E-bay and search around. I find I am now asking sellers to e-mail me the first 3 ingredients listed so then I will know what I am getting. If water & alcohol come up first in lieu of the organic botanicals, don't buy it! My confession in all this: I had placed a bid on E-bay BEFORE realizing things had changed....did not expect to win, never uppped my bid, but of course, I won. It was a 3 item deal of the Nano line (shampoo, conditioner & a deep conditioning repair mask). The mask alone sells for like $65. I got all 3 for $47. The package just arrived this week....I anxiously ripped open the box & to my delight, they were OLD recipe versions. I scored so big time!!!! Now, I just have to keep finding the old product or find a new brand. Who knew a less "reputable" source, like E-bay (as some consider the risk of counterfeit items) would be MORE reputable in getting what I really want versus buying from a trusted salon or supply house?? I love my OLD Pureology. L'Oreal can suck it. L'Oreal: You have turned a fantastic product into garden variety crap out of pure greed. You are still marketing Pureology as pure & it's not!! This stuff should be selling for under $8 a bottle now, not in excess of $25. If anyone affiliated w/ L'Oreal ever should stumble upon this (yeah, right!): "F YOU". You ruined the ONLY hair product line that some of us ever loved.

I urge everyone that ever loved the REAL Pureology to shop around & try to purchase old product. Read those microscopic labels (and you only need to read the first 3 ingredients on the list). I urge you to write letters & blog about your dissatisfaction. L'Oreal has pulled the wool over our eyes & we have to help lift that wool & see the truth -- they are greedy liars. There is nothing pure about Pureology anymore & it saddens me to say such words. If you find the old product, let me know....I'd be interested in forking out some of my hard-earned $$ for it. If you see water listed as the #1 ingredient, don't even waste your time reading the rest of the label. It's no good. Your organic botanicals like various types of mushrooms, peppermint & herbs won't be in the product anymore. You won't get the killer lather. Your hair probably won't feel as amazing & you certainly won't have as much color protection if the bottles are now chocked full of alcohol. (insert heavy SIGH here).

Happy Shopping....I hope you find something pure in your search. I, for one, won't buy it anymore unless I can find the original recipe.

Where the Wild Things REALLY Are....

Just a quick head's up: Now through 10/31/09 all kids (11 years of age and under) get in FREE to The San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal park! Visit: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/

Time is running out....grab the kiddies & have some fun! Oh, and while you are there, pick me up a little something pretty at the gift shop.

Let the wild rumpus begin!!!

Happy Shopping!

The New Ride

After 10 years of pleasure driving around in my dream car, the 1999 Volvo S70, it was time to consider a new ride....after all, slapping on over 110k in miles is nothing to sneeze at. My Volvo served me well. It's still a beautiful car, but I now have a new love....the 2009 Ford EDGE (stock photo pictured here). It has so many gadgets, it talks, has heated seats so my fanny shall never again be cold on a chilling Winter morning drive, and so much more! I got a new color called Cinnamon Brown Metallic (as seen in the photo). It's much darker in person, I think -- at times, almost appears eggplant in color, which was probably part of the draw for me.

I wish to bid a fond farewell to my Volvo....she has been good to us. I will miss her in some ways, but technology has surpassed her & it's time to have a jack for my i-Pod, a USB port and some Sirius satellite radio (6 months free anyhow). We are trying to find a buyer & hopefully, they will enjoy her as much as we did.

As for the new EDGE gracing our driveway....she's fun to drive, SO incredibly smooth, and probably more of a gas hog than what I am used to in that it's a V6 engine. The first time I drove one, I barely touched the gas & it was off & running in a quick jerk, which caught me by surprise. We shopped for about 4 weeks & nearly got one in dark grey at Galpin Ford, but things did not pan out (translation: salesmen changing numbers on you last-minute, not cool). We walked away empty-handed after 3 long hours. Last weekend, we went back to Star Ford in Glendale to see Sasha, a very low-key car salesman we met on week #1 of our search. We brought him an ad from a local dealer & he said he would beat it....and he did! I got more gadgets than I even wanted by taking a 2009 model versus a 2010 & for less money. We purchased the extended warranty & the maintenance plan for a few bucks more, so we should have no worries for 6 years or 75k miles. If you need a Ford, go see Sasha @ Star Ford in Glendale!!

Car shopping sucks.....Sasha made it happen & without ANY stress or annoyances. He did not back pedal. He was up front, gave us a price on demand & they all stuck by it in the end! It took far less time than the wasted hours elsewhere....and in the end, we could not be more satisfied. LOVING the new ride!

Happy Shopping!

The Right Kind of Ugly

As a teen going through my "Goth" phase, I would often shop for things my mother would say were UGLY....black clothing, clunky boots, you name it! My response was always something like: Yes, it's ugly...but it's the right kind of ugly -- my mother would laugh & either she or my grandmother would indulge my purchase.

My "right kind of ugly" words have come rushing back to my mind lately as we adopted another dog from a rescue group. We have named her MITZI (formerly: "Kitty") and she is 8 pounds of some funky cuteness all wrapped up in an ugly shell that is precisely "the right kind of ugly". Mitzi was surrendered by her owner in January of 2009 to a County animal shelter in Downey, CA. I was told she had a terrible case of mange and kennel cough, the poor thing. A wonderful group called Sparky & the Gang (based out of Long Beach, CA) rescued her & nursed her back to health in hopes of finding her a suitable home. 10 months later, poor little Mitzi was still with the rescue as no one seemed to want her. Sure, she's not the stereotypical pretty dog, nor is she a young puppy, but she still has a loving heart that deserves a second chance at a nice life.....in walk a pair of suckers for a pretty face, me & Mike (with Frankie in tow)!

We were at a local Oktoberfest event in Montrose on 10/3/09....had some lunch after a nice day of walking around with Frankie (he is simply the envy of anyone that sees his cute face). He was exhausted from all of the attention & so were we. We headed back to the car only now, there was a dog adoption thing going on -- "Uh-oh", I said to Mike as we walked closer. I'm a sucker -- I want to take all dogs home with me when I see them!!! There must have been 20 dogs and puppies here at this event. The "leader", Sherri, was an adorable blonde from Michigan (my home state) and one of her side-kicks, named Mitzi, was just one of the "funnest" people we have ever met (excuse the poor grammar). At any rate, we were looking in the playpen of tiny dogs & "Kitty" was so scruffy & barking as if to say "look at me!!" -- we were looking at her, though & the human Mitzi quickly pulled Kitty from the pack to come out & play with us. (I'm sure they were desperate to get her adopted out). We were filling out paperwork before you knew it, Mike was holding the little scared dog and Frankie was eagerly wanting to play more with her. Mitzi (the human) rode home with us & the little dog to inspect our yard, all the while we joked & had some fun....we gave her a cold beer & a margie while the doggies ran & played in the yard. SOLD. We have a new dog!

I had to take Mitzi back to the fair, so Mike remained home to dog sit the new dog & the old one. We finalized some paperwork & made arrangements to pay the $300 donation/adoption fee to Sherri & her group via mail since I did not have a checkbook on me at the time. Mitzi was SO great, fun & helpful, we ended up naming the new pooch after her -- hopefully, she realizes it's an honor! *wink*

The first 2 nights were rough, no pun intended....the dogs did not sleep well & consequently, neither did we. By night #3, things had improved greatly. PHEW!!! We have had some potty accidents & poor little Mitzi (the K9) had to be spayed last Friday, but I assure you, she is recovering famously! We officially have a nice pair....like Lady & The Tramp, only Frankie looks more like Lady & Mitzi would certainly fall into tramp category. ha ha!

Everyone asks what breed Mitzi is....not really sure, but we suspect terrier mixed with Chihuahua. She has wiry hair, the little bit of it she has. She has a beard & her scraggly hairs atop her tiny head easily take on the shape of a mohawk any given day. She & Frankie became fast friends, although, I think he'd prefer she stay out of his bed when it's time to sleep. Ha ha ha!!! We are tired & overwhelmed at times, but overall, we know we did a good thing taking this little mutt into our home. She's the right kind of ugly for sure with a heart of absolute gold. I hope things continue to improve & she realizes she is in a good place.

To give this a tie to shopping: Home Goods supplied us with a new dog bed & cute doggie dishes for feeding, all at a reasonable price!

Happy Shopping!!

Boots! Boots! Boots!!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE autumn just so I can bust out my fave boots to wear with jeans! I'm getting so excited about the fact that the past 2 days felt more like Winnie the Pooh's "Blustery Day" than it did summer....because it means I am just that much closer to getting to wear my boots again!

And, speaking of boots....I'm in the market for some new ones this season. My pointy-toed stilettos need to be replaced after many good years on my stinky feet! I have 2 pairs by BCBG -- they are identical, only one pair is black & the other is dark brown. They are that stretchy faux leather, very plain, very high, & very pointy (translation: you would not want a job working on your feet all day if you had to wear these puppies, but since I sit in an office, I'm good to go!). Anyhow, let's just say they have seen better days. I could take them into a shoe repair for a tune-up, but let's face it: they are Pleather. *sigh*

I landed myself in a local Marshall's store last night, expecting to find nothing. Ironically, found several pairs of cute boots. My budget could not afford them all, thankfully, due to the lack of real estate in my closet, but I did grab up 2 pairs for a steal! The dressier pair is by Etienne Aigner (spelling?), black, faux leather (again), about a 3 inch skinny heel (easier on the spine), zip up the side & a small buckle around the ankle area -- for only $39.99. Nice. The second pair is a chocolate brown suede flat boot by BORN. I have the same pair in black leather that I got last Christmas and love, love, love them! They have gummy soles & make you feel like you are walking in slippers! They zip up the side & look great with jeans or tights & a mini-skirt. These were on clearance for $90, which is a far cry from what they would normally retail for at Nordstrom. Yippee! Autumn weather, here I come!!! There were a few other nice pairs by various designers, including more from BORN, so I urge you to get in there & try some on.

Now, I know the next thing I am going to hear is from Dianna, who is going to want me to post pix.....so, if you see some attached to this message, yay me....if not, sorry! (I'm not at home at the moment to add photos, but I will try. *wink*)

Get your boot-loving self over to Marshall's if you need some new ones. I am guessing their Mega-Shoe Shop in Glendale might even have more goodies....but I am out of cash so I can't go & scope it our for you all. I emptied my wallet in Burbank last night -- but it was worth it! I'm totally "shamelessly shopportunistic" and proud of it.

Happy Shopping!

Household Project Revealed -- at last!

I posted earlier in summer about the fact that we decided to re-do our den at home...a perfectly lovely room that we wanted to improve upon. We started from scratch this time by removing ALL the old stuff & completely re-painting the room. For those that had not seen the room before, picture gingerbread colored walls, dark brown trim, a huge desk, dark red arm chair, armoire for hiding computer components, lots of black framed photos on the walls, a large (and comfy) dark brown suede futon, and tons of warm & dark colors all around. It was super cozy....but honestly, the furniture was from our old house & it was much too large for that room. It was time to improve it all!

Friends would say we were crazy -- after all, the room was perfectly lovely as it was, but Mike & I just knew we could do better (or we hoped that we could). We also love to decorate and let's face it, after nearly 4 wonderful years in this home, we did all we could, ran out of projects & we end up re-doing things that don't need to be touched. At any rate, we went with a completely different look and lighter color palette. I must say, the results are far better than we anticipated & while I am no pro photographer, I am including some pix at the behest of my BFF, Dianna, so you can all see the new room. Someday, maybe I can dig up old photos so you have a good "before & after" comparison. :)

The futon was donated to a good friend who had just purchased her first home & we think it looks FAB in her place. Apparently, she's enjoying it immensely, which makes us smile to no end. Most of the other furniture pieces were sold off at a recent yard sale or donated to charity. The armoire, which Mike built, got a reprieve & managed to remain in the room since it's a wonderful piece with lots of storage space for the unsightly necessities. I miss our old red arm-chair...complete with Crayola markings on the side from our beloved God-daughter, Cailey, who saw fit to leave her mark as a toddler. *sigh* But, the new chair, affectionately named "Edith" is a wonderful new addition(think of the old All in the Family TV series & how Archie had the big comfy chair, while Edith was forced to relax in a smaller, less plush chair) -- our Edith is pretty comfy though, I must admit! (Thank you Home Goods!!!!) We still intend to find a worthy home for the former area rug, a real beauty if you happen to know any interested parties. *wink*

Anyhow, I ramble on....here are the pix! Let me know what you think.

P.S. - I did not include a shot of the new, smaller desk since there were still some electrical cord issues that were not resolved at the time of my lame photo-shoot.

Happy Shopping!!

Extra 50% Off! What's not to like??

Hit up your local OLD NAVY if you need casual clothing at a huge savings! All the clearance merchandise (and there is a LOT of it) is on sale for an EXTRA 50% off! I went yesterday & scored several items for under $40 total, including steep So-Cal sales tax. I bought a pair of fold-over waist yoga pants for $3.99, tunic t-shirt dresses for about $4.50 each (got 2 of those) and much more!

I'm not sure how long this special sale lasts, so I would suggest you get there soon while the getting is good! At these prices, stuff is sure to fly off the shelves fast.

I might go back and stock up early for future holiday gifts. If you have children, it's probably a good time to get them some cute stuff at low prices, too. I was so busy with the stuff in my size range, I never made it to the kids' or mens'. Ooops! Old Navy rocks!!!

Happy Shopping!

If you have class with a "C" and not a "K".....

For those that know me, you know I seldom hit up a museum, despite living in LA and having many wonderful ones virtually on my doorstep.....I always get in trouble at museums. I get too close to the art because I want to inspect the details & apparently, I set off silent alarms & panic security guards as I go. Not cool. My brother & I nearly got kicked out of the Getty because of such "behavior". I did not realize you could not get up close & personal....and, we were not touching anything -- what's the harm? Needless to say, I don't go to museums often. I think security is happier that way. ha ha!! I'm sorta "K"lassy when it comes to museums -- I am better off sticking to malls & home improvement stores, thanks.

Anyhow, for those of you that are Classy (& cultured), I found out that 22 So-Cal museums are doing a freebie soon....a "Free for All" if you will. Here is the skinny:

Museums Free for All
22 Los Angeles and Orange County Museums
Free Admission Days: October 3 and/or October 4, 2009

The following 22 museums — - - presenting art, cultural heritage, natural history, and science - - — will all open their doors wide & invite visitors free of charge for general admission. Here's the list!

Participating Museums:
* Armory Center for the Arts - Both Days
* Bowers Museum - Sunday, October 4th Only
* California African American Museum - Both Days
* California Heritage Museum - Saturday, October 3rd Only
* California Science Center - Both Days
* Craft and Folk Art Museum - Both Days
* Fowler Museum at UCLA - Both Days
* The Getty Center - Both Days- Timed tickets required
* The Getty Villa**- Both Days- Timed Tickets required
* The Grammy Museum at L.A. Live - Sunday, October 4th Only
* Hammer Museum at UCLA - Sunday, October 4th Only
* Japanese American National Museum - Saturday, October 3rd Only
* The Museum of Contemporary Art,
* Los Angeles (MOCA) - Sunday, October 4th Only
* Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA) - Both Days
* Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County - Sunday October 4th Only
* Norton Simon Museum - Sunday, October 4th Only
* Orance County Center for Contemporary Art - Both Days
* Orange County Museum of Art - Both Days
* The Paley Center for Media - Both Days
* Santa Monica Museum of Art - Saturday, October 3rd Only
* Skirball Cultural Center - Sunday, October 4th Only
* The Studio for Southern California History - Saturday, October 3rd Only

I'm sure all these places have great gift shops to, therefore allowing me to say have fun, but also: HAPPY SHOPPING!